Scam Alert: Foreign Money Transfers to American Bank Acounts Request

(Phoenix, Ariz. – August 16, 2004) Attorney General Terry Goddard is warning Arizonans of a scam typically known as the Nigerian Advanced Fee request. While many are aware of this scam, the Attorney General’s Office wants people to know thatthis scam is once again being circulated in Arizona through letters and emails.

Prospects are contacted either via fax, email or regular mail by someone claiming to be from a foreign country, requesting assistance in transferring millions of dollars into a United States bank account. The person is typically, but not always, from a country in Africa, and usually claims to hold a high ranking position, or is part of an important committee. This person requests assistance in transferring a secret multi-million dollar surplus to which they have access, and wants to bring the money to the United States.

“This scam has been around since 1996,” Goddard said. “Yet some people still answer the call for help. I want to remind Arizona residents of the simple rule: If an offer sounds too good to be true – it is.”

The person initiating the contact (the scammer) promises to give a percentage of the money transferred, typically 20 to 30 percent, as a payment for the assistance. Theproposal says that the remaining money “transferred” will be given back to the scammer, with a small percentage set aside for various taxes or transfer expenses.

The scammer usually requests various expenses upfront and requests money for these fees to be sent with the promise of reimbursement after the millions are transferred. The payment of advance fees is the ultimate goal for these scammers. The money for transfer does not exist, and the victim is left with nothing.

Although the stories have several variations, the common themes are:

A foreign national asking for your help to transfer money into an American bank account

Millions of dollars are at issue, with a promise of a percentage of the transferred money

The matter is strictly confidential

A plea for sympathy is interwoven in the story

The money was found or created in a dishonest manner.

Here are some tips to help residents avoid these types of scams:

Never give personal financial information, such as your bank account number, unless you are sure you understand the transaction and you can trust the person to whom you give it.

Beware of a false sense of urgency and a request to keep the transaction confidential.

Attached is a version of this scam Mr. Goddard recently received on his home fax machine. If you know someone who has been contacted to participate in this scam, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the U.S. Secret Service at: